Norwegian electronic music producer Alan Walker and British singer-songwriter James Arthur have joined forces with Pakistani artists Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib for “Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight),” a new interpretation of one of Pakistan’s biggest recent musical breakthroughs. Blending South Asian musical traditions with contemporary electronic production and English-language vocals, the collaboration takes the original song’s international momentum into a new chapter.
Released in July 2026, the original “Alfaaz” quickly became a phenomenon. Driven by Hamza Malik’s vision and vocals, alongside the distinctive qawwali and Sufi influences brought by Zain Zohaib, the track found an audience well beyond Pakistan. It climbed to No. 26 on Spotify’s Global Daily Top Songs chart, topped charts in India and Pakistan, and gained traction on the UK Official Asian Music Chart. Its reach extended across social media, generating more than one million Instagram Reels and approximately 2.4 million TikTok posts featuring the song.
The track eventually caught the attention of Alan Walker, whose catalog has accumulated more than 100 billion streams worldwide. An unexpected connection emerged through the original “Alfaaz” music video, which featured a mysterious masked figure resembling Walker’s recognizable onstage identity. What began as an online exchange developed into a full collaboration, bringing the Norwegian producer to Lahore to work directly with Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib.
The visit also provided the backdrop for a new music video. Rather than creating a conventional remix visual, the production continues the world established in the original “Alfaaz” video, bringing its imagery and atmosphere together with Walker’s familiar visual style. Filmed in approximately 12 hours, the video connects the two versions through a shared visual story.
Musically, Walker introduces his signature electronic production to the composition, while James Arthur adds an English-language vocal dimension. With more than 16.5 billion Spotify streams across his music, Arthur brings another international voice to the collaboration. Their contributions broaden the track’s reach while maintaining the South Asian musical identity that helped the original connect with listeners.
The collaboration also carries a deeper connection to Pakistan’s musical history. Zain Zohaib are the grandsons of Ustad Haji Rehmat Ali Khan, a musician who performed alongside legendary qawwali vocalist Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Continuing their family’s musical tradition, the brothers represent a new generation bringing qawwali influences to contemporary audiences.
That connection recalls another important moment in the international journey of Pakistani music. In 1990, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s “Mustt Mustt,” recorded with producer Michael Brook and later remixed by Massive Attack, helped introduce his music to new audiences in the UK and beyond. More than three decades later, “Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)” creates another meeting point between electronic music and a tradition shaped by generations of Pakistani musicians.
For Xulfi, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Giraffe, the project represents an opportunity to bring Pakistani music to a wider international audience.
“Music is one of Pakistan’s greatest strengths. That’s been my core belief since I started my journey of music and my endeavours have always gravitated towards opening the global doors of music for my country, whether it’s through the platforms I’ve worked on or through the music we work on at Giraffe.”
Giraffe CEO and Co-Founder Muhammad Ibrahim shared a similar perspective on the importance of connecting local talent with international opportunities.
“Pakistan has some of the richest musical traditions in the world and a new generation of artists ready to take them global. What has often been missing is the bridge, and that is what we are building at Giraffe: an ecosystem that discovers and backs Pakistani talent and connects it with the best artists, partners and audiences anywhere. ‘Alfaaz’ shows what becomes possible when that bridge exists. A song made in Lahore which has found listeners around the world”
Rather than simply pairing internationally recognized artists with an established regional hit, “Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)” builds on a musical story that was already reaching audiences across borders. Connecting qawwali heritage with contemporary electronic and pop production, the collaboration brings together different generations and creative backgrounds while keeping Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib at the center of the original’s journey.
“Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)” by Alan Walker, James Arthur, Hamza Malik, and Zain Zohaib is out now.
Alan Walker: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok
James Arthur: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok
Hamza Malik: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Zain Zohaib: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok